Who makes the best 2D only sonar?

Guess I'm going to just run this Helix as a high dollar GPS, since that's the only function I can reliably use on it. But looking for the best widest angle 2D sonar system out there, preferably one with a big screen, if anyone makes it. I'm sick of this Mega c rap, and I never use side imaging, or down imaging for that matter. Although, if my 2D would mark fish, I might use the down imaging. Just to get a better picture.

I just want a good 2D image under the boat, and I have not been able to get that with this unit, at all. It does great at contour, depth and structure, and even picks up trash and plankton in the water column, just not fish. I would like something that runs at a lower hertz than the helix, since 140-200khz is the lowest setting. Maybe something in the 80's.

Does anyone make that anymore?

What gen Helix do you have ?

Helix 7 G3N Mega SI and DI. It's about 6 months old.

Humminbird dual spectrum 2d is really good and a huge improvement over the previous dual beam.

Can you post some screen shots of what you are seeing.

I could, but i don't know my password to my photo hosting site. And I haven't taken any since it's really started giving me problems. Basically, it's perfect bottom structure, with a screen full of white, with occasional blue or green dots. ZERO arches, ZERO bait balls. I can go out and use my cast net, and catch tons of shad, never show up on the sonar. i can catch fish also, they never show up on the sonar either. Adjusting the sensitivity, clutters the screen, or not. Doesn't give me any fish.

Spoke to Humminbird, and they said to update the software. I did both updates, and it's still exactly the same. I can see the side imaging, and the down imaging maybe needing some tweaking, to get good images. But, I would think you should be able to see something on 2D, no matter what. And I used to occasionally see some arches, and bait. But, two weeks ago, it just stopped showing anything in the water column itself. No change in settings from the previous week, and it seemed to be at least working then.

When I turned it on 2 weeks ago, I had no screens, other than my mapping screens. No side, No down, No 2D. Turned it off, and back on, and got my screens back, but have not marked a single fish since. I really don't want to send it back to Humminbird, without at least getting something in the boat I can use for 2D. Kind of irks me, I have to send it back at all

Yes it does suck but you probably will have to send it back, at least it is under warranty. I am running a Solix which has the same dual spectrum 2d as yours and I couldn't be happier.

I haven't seen that many fish arches, in the entire six months I've had mine. On nine different area lakes, over many, many weekends. Much less on the screen at once. Made me wonder if some lakes only had like 20 fish total in them. LOL

On a positive note, I think I've done pretty well this year, only being able to guess where the fish are, just by seeing the bottom contour and structure.

contact slade dougherty at lake fork, let him tune your bird up, well worth the money.

if you still want just a 2d, garmin has no transducer units, they can do a lot of stuff but you have to add the ducer for what you want. just did this for livescope.

gave less than 600 for a 9" touchscreen with no ducer, cabelas had it. their 2d is great, I ran nothing but birds for yrs and like the garmin better.

Gotta be around fish to see fish recorded on sonar. This is with a Helix 7 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G3:

I fished on Conroe this year who had the latest Lowrance 12 inch unit. Thats all he used was the 2d sonar. It was really sharp. I replaced my Lowrance Units with Garmin Echomap Ultra 122's networked with a 54 transducer. Side scan, down scan, and sonar extremely clear and crisp. I also added Livescope but this is an option the original poster is not looking for. If I was only looking for 2D sonar, I would pick the 12 inch unit that is the easiest to navigate through. The ease of finding everything and making the subtle adjustments based on changing conditions is why I chose Garmin. Nothing hidden in the menus and really easy to use. Besides giving a great picture.

I understand that. the lakes I'm on in most cases are small. Unless they are hiding on land, I have yet to run over any. And I'm catching fish in places they should be, but not seeing them on sonar.

I've noticed a huge number of guides out there swing with Lowrance too. I have yet to go with one that had a bird. I'll take a look at the Garmins.

The lowrance 2D was impressive. I think the Garmin I have is just as good on 2D. I wanted LiveScope so at least one of my front units had to be a Garmin. The Lowrance Gen 3's I replaced, I thought were to cumbersome to use. I had nothing but frustration with them when I wanted to find something to change because the info was buried so deep into sub folders. I would usually just give up looking for it. Also I never had an easy time with software update down loads. Keeping an open mind, I looked over all three major brands because there is a lot of money involved when changing both bow and console 12 inch units. I had a good situation because I was able to get out on the water with Lowrance's and Garmin's latest comparably priced12 inch units. The HB's unfortunately had to be checked out at Bass Pro. But two of my out of state fishing buddies upgraded to HB's last year so I got their feed back. Not as good as hands on the water like I had with the Lowrance or Garmin. So when it came down to putting the money out, I went with the Garmin Echomap Ultra HD 122vs. Also since I was adding Livescope I did not have to buy a separate unit just for that. But I would have to get the LiveScope if I thought the Lowrance/HB units demonstrated to be that much better than the Garmin. Which obviously I did not think they did. Especially in ease of operation. Take your time and check all of them out for yourself. Its your money

Those images look so good they look photoshopped. Lol

How and where is your transducer mounted? I have a Helix 9 Gen2 that has 2D and GPS only that I had all sorts of problems with and discovered that the shoot through transducer in the bilge was not installed correctly.

Wayne

Below the live well pump bracket, in the area specified for a transducer on a pontoon boat. On the center of the left pontoon. And it's been leveled to position at searching speed (3.5 to 4 mph)